Combination wall and portable night lamp



June 3, 1958 w, K 2,837,629

COMBINATION WALL AND PORTABLE NIGHT LAMP I Filed July 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Guy 14 C/a/A' INVENTOR.

June 3, 1958 w, g R 2,837,629

COMBINATION WALL AND PORTABLE NIGHT LAMP Filed July 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Guy 14/. (Va/A INVENTOR.

BYWULW ATTORNEY Uni rr- S. Paten COMBINATION WALL AND PORTABLE NIGHT LAMP Guy W. Clark, Galveston, Tex.

Application July 12, 1955, Serial No. 521,507

5 Claims. (Cl. 24010.6)

The present invention relates to a portable battery operated night lamp which may be turned on and off with a minimum of effort.

Quite often it is desirable to use a night lamp which is not as bright as an ordinary lamp. Night lights heretofore used are provided with an off and on switch which is-difiicult to locate in a dark room and generally such switches are unsually hard to turn oil and on unless the lamp is steadied with the other hand. The present invention is directed to a night lamp which includes a switch that may be turned on and oil with a minimum of eifort and which switchmay easily and quicklybe located even in a totally dark room.

- An object of the present invention is to provide a portable battery operated night lamp, including a base, a lamp stand extending upwardly therefrom, a, socket holder'rotatably supported at the top of the lamp stand, a member resiliently supported concentrically of the lamp stand and adapted to be urged upwardly against the socket holder to frictionally engage the socket holder to hold it in any desired position relative to the lamp stand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable battery operated night lamp including a base, a lamp stand extending upwardly therefrom, a socket holder rotatably supported at the top of the lamp stand, a member resiliently supported concentrically of the lamp stand and adapted to be urged upwardly against the socket holder to frictionally engage the holder and hold it in any desired position relative to the lamp stand, switch means mounted on the socket holder and on the lamp stand electrically engageable when the socket holder is rotated to a predetermined position in the lamp stand.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable battery operated night lamp including a base, a lamp stand extending upwardly therefrom, a socket holder rotatably supported at the top of the lamp stand, a member resiliently supported concentrically of the lamp stand and adapted to be urged upwardly against the socket holder to frictionally engage the holder and hold it in any desired position relative to the lamp stand, switch means mounted on the socket holder and on the lamp stand electrically engageable when the socket holder is rotated to a predetermined position in the lamp stand, the switch means including contacts on the resiliently supported member and strip contacts on the periphery of the socket holder for electrically engaging with the contacts on the member, and the strip contacts being spaced apart with their ends offset circumferentially so that the strip contacts and the member contacts may be electrically disengaged when the socket holder is-rotated to a predetermined position on either side of the lamp shade.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a. portable battery operated night lamp including a base, a lamp standextending upwardly therefrom, a socket holder rotatably supported at the top of the lamp stand,

a member resiliently supported concentrically of the lamp stand: and adapted to be urged upwardly against the P t ted Jun 19.

socket holder to frictionally engage the holder and hold it in any desired position relative to the lamp stand, switch means mounted on the socket holder and on the lamp stand electrically engageable when the socket holder is rotated to apredetermined position in the lamp stand,

the switch means including contacts on each side of the socket holder, spring means to urge the contracts outwardly of each side of the holder, and a pair of circular strip contacts on the upper end of the lamp stand with the strip contacts being in opposed spaced relation for electrically engaging the outwardly urged contacts on the socket holder and being less than a complete circle so that when the socket is rotated to either side of the lamp stand to a predetermined position, the contacts thereon may be electrically disengaged from the strip contacts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel switch construction for a portable battery operated night lamp whereby the lamp may be easily and quickly turned on in the darkness with a minimum of effort. o

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the night lamp in the wall bracket;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing in more detail the rotatable arrangement between the socket holder and the lamp stand and the friction brake means for holding the socket in any desired rotated position relative to the lamp stand;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section,

, showing the socket holder and its relation to the spring supported member in the lamp stand as well as oneform of switch means used in the invention; r

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, showing the construction of the base with the device mounted in the wall bracket;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the lamp base with the top thereof removed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper part of the lamp stand with the socket holder mounted therein and with an alternate form of switch means shown in more detail;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6 showing one of the circularly arranged strip contacts in the lamp stand; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 showing the other circularly arranged strip contact in the lamp stand. I

In Fig. l the invention is denoted generally by the numeral 2 and includes the wall bracket 3 whereby the lamp 4 may be supported on a wall. The wall bracket 3 includes a back portion 4' which is substantially perpendicular and a bottom portion 5 extending outwardly therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The wall bracket 3 may be provided with an opening 6 in the back portion 4' thereof whereby it may be secured by any suitable means such as a screw or nail 7 as shown in Fig. 4 to the wall 8.

In some instances, it will be desirable to use the wall bracket as a holder for the lamp even though the lamp is not to be positioned on a wall. For example, the wall bracket 3 may be placed on a dresser and act not only as a holder for the lamp 4, but also as a holder for perfume or cosmetic containers which may be set on the surface 9 of the bottom portion 5. It may also be desirable to use the wall bracket 3 for holding the lamp and for placing food on the bottom portion 5 of the holder while watching television or in any situation where semi-darkness may be desired in a room while eating.

In order to support the lamp 4 on the bracket 3, a holder 10 is provided on the bottom portion- 5 whereby the base 11 of the lamp 4 may be slidably received in the holder. The holder is formed by spaced side walls 12 and 13 which extend vertically upwardly from the sur face 9 of the bottom portion and are joined at their rear ends to the back portion 4. A front plate 15 is engaged between the walls 12 and 13 as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The top 16 of the holder 10 is open so'as to receive the base 11 of the lamp 4 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The base 11 is shaped to fit within the holder 16 and includes spaced parallel top and bottomwalls 17 and 18 as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. A front end wall 19 and parallel side walls 211 and 21 are joined together along their intersecting ends 22 and 23' respectively and support the top and bottom walls 17 and 18 of the base 11 in spaced relation so as to form a horizontally disposed battery receiving chamber 24.

A second end wall 25 is provided, which end wall has cooperating engaging surfaces 26, 27 and 28 adapted to be frictionally engaged with surfaces 29 and 30 on the bottom and top spaced walls of the base 11, whereby the end wall 25 may be removably positioned on the base 11. Access may be had to the battery chamber 24 within the base 11 by engaging the surfaces 31 and 32 in the second end wall 25 with a knife or fingernail so as to disengage the surfaces 26, 27 from the surface 36 and the surface 28 from the surface 2h.

When the lamp 4 is positioned in the wall bracket or holder 3, the end wall 25 will be positioned so as to close off the battery receiving chamber 24 as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4- of the drawings. As shown in the drawings, the base 11 and the holder 16 have a sliding fit whereby the lamp 3 may be firmly positioned within the holder 10, but may be easily removed therefrom by slidably disengaging the base 11 and the holder 10. If desired, the lamp 4 may then be carried from room to room without the wall holder 3. The bottom surface 18 of the base 11 is flat so that it will act as a support surface for the lamp when the lamp is not in the holder 3.

Extending upwardly from the top surface 17 of the base 11 is a hollow lamp stand 35. The lamp stand is provided with projections 36 and 37 at the top thereof, which projections or cars are spaced so as to receive the socket holder 38 therebetween. A pin 40 is adapted to be engaged through the ears 36 and 37 as well as through the opening 48 in socket holder 38 whereby the socket holder 38 may be rotated in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lamp stand 35. A nut 41 may be engaged over the threaded area 42 on the end of the pin so as to retain the pin 4%) in position on the ears 36 and 37 and through the socket holder 38 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

It is to be noted that the socket holder 38 includes a disc shaped body 44 with the projection 45 extending radially from the disc 44. A socket 46 is arranged concentrically in the outer end of the radially extending arm or projection 45 so as to receive a lamp bulb 47 therein.

The opening 48 is arranged centrally of the disc 44 so as to receive the pin 40 therethrough when the socket holder is positioned between the cars 36 and 37 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. A counter bore 48' is provided in the top of the lamp stand and extends downwardly from the cars 36 and 37 .toa point in the lamp stand as illustrated at 49. A member 56 is slidably arranged within the counter bore 48, such member being supported within the counter bore by resilient means such as the spring 1 which rests on the surface 49 and abuts against the annular flange 52 at the top of the member 51). Such spring urges the member outwardly between the cars 36 and 37 so that the upper surface of the flange 52 contacts the circular edge 5'3 of the disc 44.

From the foregoing itcan be appreciated that a construction is provided whereby the socket holder 38 may,

be rotated in an are at the top of the lamp stand 35 and may be held at any desired rotated position relative to the lamp stand, by reason of the friction engagement between the surface of the annular flange 52 and the circuiar edge 53 on the socket holder 33.

The member 56 not only serves as a friction brake means to position the socket holder 38 at any desired rotated position relative to the lamp stand 35, but such means also serves as a switch for turning the lamp olf and on. Quite often on arising at night without any lights it is difficult to locate a switch on the wall or a switch on a lamp. The present invention not only provides a portable lamp, but also provides a lamp having a switch construction whereby the lamp may be easily and readily turned on without the dimculty of trying to locate an off and on switch which may be located in a hard to find place.

The present invention provides a switch which automatically turns the lamp on when the lamp is moved to an operative position. For example, in Fig. 2 a lamp shade 55 is shown as being positioned on the end of the arm 45 so as to cover the bulb 47. When the lamp shade 55 is in the position illustrated by the full lines of Pig. 2, the lamp will be off. When the lamp shade 55 is moved to the position represented in dotted lines at 56, the lamp will turn on and will remain on while the lamp shade is rotated about the top of the lamp stand until it assumes the position shown in dotted line at 57 where it turns off.

It is to be noted from the foregoing description that movement of the lamp shade 55 to the operative position as illustrated in dotted line at 56 turns the lamp on and it is, therefore, only necessary to move the lamp shade 55 to an operative position to turn the lamp on for use.

One form of switch means is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings for accomplishing the foregoing function. Such switch means includes contacts 61 and 62 which are placed in the top surface of the annular flange 52 so as to abut the circular edge surface 53 on the edge of the disc 44. Arranged on the surface 53 of the disc 44 are strip contacts 63 and 64 respectively. Such strip contacts are spaced apart as illustrated at 65 so that as the socket holder 38 is rotated, such contacts will slida-bly engage the contacts 61 and 62 respectively. It is to be noted that the ends 66 and 67 of the strip contacts 63 and 64 are staggered so that non-conductive portions 68 and 69 are arranged on the surface 53 at the ends of the contacts. The contacts 63 and 64 are electrically connected by suitable conduit means 71 and 72 to the socket 46 and the lamp 47 therein so that when the strip contacts 63 and 64 are both engaged with the contacts 61 and 62, electrical energy may be supplied from the batteries 75 through the contacts 76 in the chamber 24 through con duit "77 to turn on the lamp 47.

When the socket holder 48 is rotated so that either one of the contacts 61 or 62 is in the void or non-conductive space 68 or 69 the lamp will be turned off. This position is illustrated in the full line view of Fig. 2. When the lamp socket 38 is rotated to the position illustrated at 56, both strip contacts 63 and 64 will be engaging contacts 61 and 62 respectively and will remain engaged therewith until the lamp shade 55 and connected socket holder 38 are moved back to the full line position of Fig. 2, or until the lamp shade is rotated completely about the top of the lamp stand 35 to the position shown in dotted line at 57.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, an alternate embodiment of the switch construction is illustrated. In this form, contacts 81 and 82 extend outwardly relative to the side surfaces 83 and S4 of the disc 44. Such contacts are electrically connected by means of the conducting wires 86 and 87 respectively to the socket 46 and the bulb 47 therein. Spring means 88 arepositioned within recess 89 in the disc 44 so as to urge the contacts 81 and 82 outwardly v98 which void is non-conductive electrically.

thoci rcularly arranged strip contacts 91 and 92 on the inner surface 95 of the spaced ears 36 and 37. It is to be noted that the circularly arranged strip contacts 91 and 92 terminate as illustrated at 96 so that a void 97 is provided between the end 96 of the contact and the end When either of the contacts 81 or 82 is in its respective void space 97, the lamp is turned off. When the socket holder 3 8 is rotated so thatboth contacts 81 and 82 engage the strip contacts 91, and 92, the lamp will be turned on. The non-conductive portions 97 of the strips 91 and 92 are arranged so as to be one on each side of the lamp stand. Therefore, when the lamp is in the position illustrated in the full line view of Fig. 2, it will be ed as previously described with the-modification shown in Fig. 3 and similarly, it will be off when it is rotated completely about the top of the-lamp stand 35 to the position shown in dotted line at 57 in Fig. 2. t

It is to be noted that the foregoing switch construction provides an arrangement whereby the lamp may be readily turned on when it is moved to an operative position from either direction and that the friction brake or member 50 serves also as an element of the switch construction in the modification shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

While two dry cell batteries have been illustrated in the drawings, it should seem obvious that any suitable number may be used as desired. They are preferably connected in series, but may be connected in parallel if de-' sired.

Broadly the invention relates to a portable night lamp which may be easily and readily turned on.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination wall and portable battery operated night lamp comprising, a wall bracket including a back portion for fitting against a wall and a bottom portion secured to said back portion and extending outwardly therefrom in a substantially perpendicular plane, a holder on said bottom portion, a lamp base slidably fitting in said holder, said base having parallel top and bottome walls spaced by and connected together with parallel vertical side walls and a vertical end wall which cooperate to form a hollow battery receiving chamber, electrical contacts in said chamber, a second end wall for said chamber, said end wall and each of said parallel top and bottom walls having cooperating surfaces whereby said second end wall may be removably secured to said chamber, a vertically disposed hollow lamp stand secured to said top wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said lamp stand having a pair of spaced ears on the top thereof, a socket holder fitting between said cars, a socket in the end of said holder, a pin extending through said ears and socket holder whereby said socket holder may be rotated about said cars, a spring loaded plug fitting in the upper end of said hollow lamp stand and abutting said socket holder for frictionally holding said socket holder in, any desired rotated position, electrical contacts on said socket holder and electrically connected to said socket, electrical contacts on said lamp stand adjacent said socket holder and electrically connected to said contacts in said battery chamber, said contacts on said socket holder adapted to be engaged with said contacts on said lamp stand when said socket holder is rotated, and batteries in said chamber having terminals engaging said contacts in said chamber whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said rotatable socket holder.

2. A combination wall and portable battery operated night lamp comprising, a wall bracket including a back portion for fitting against a wall and a bottom portion secured to said back portion and extending outwardly therefrom in a substantially perpendicular plane, a holder on said bottom portion, a lamp base slidably fitting in said holder, said base having parallel top and bottom walls spaced by and connected together with parallel vertical side walls and; avertical end wall whichicm operate to form a hollow battery receiving chamber, electrical contacts in said chamber, a second end wall for said chamber, said end wall and each of said parallel top; and bottom walls having cooperating surfaces whereby said second end wall may be removably secured "to said chamber, a vertically disposed hollow lamp stand se cured to saidtop wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said lamp stand having a pair of spaced ears on the top thereof, a socket holder fitting between said ears, a socket in the end of said holder, a pin extending through said ears and socket holder whereby said socket holder may be rotated about said cars, a spring loaded plug fitting in the upper end of said hollow lamp stand and abutting said socket holder for frictionally holding said socket holder-in any desired rotated position, electrical contacts on said socket holder and electrically connected to said socket, electrical contacts on said lamp stand adjacent said socket holder contacts and electrically connected to said contacts in said battery chamber, and batteries in said chamber having terminals engaging said contacts in said chamber whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said rotatable socket holder, said contacts on said socket holder engaging said contacts on said lamp stand whensaid socket holder is rotated to a predetermined position to conduct electrical energy from said batteries to said socket.

3. A portable night lamp comprising, a base, said base having a fiat bottom with a top parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, said base also including side walls and an end wall connecting said top and bottom walls together whereby a battery receiving chamber is formed in said base, a second end wall adapted to be removably secured to said base whereby access may be had to said battery chamber, a hollow lamp stand supported on said top wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said lamp stand having spaced, vertically extending ears on the top thereof, a socket holder fitting between said ears, a socket in the end thereof, there being a concentric counter bore in said lamp stand extending downwardly from said cars, a member mounted in said counter bore, spring means in said counter bore for urging said member upwardly between said ears to frictionally engage 'said socket holder, a pin extending through said ears and socket holder whereby said holder and socket thereon may be rotated in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lamp stand, electrical contacts in said chamber, electrical contacts on said socket holder and electrically connected to said socket, electrical contacts on said lamp stand adjacent said socket holder and electrically connected to said contacts in said battery chamber, said contacts on said socket holder adapted to be engaged with said contacts on said lamp stand when said socket holder is rotated, and batteries in said chamber having terminals engaging said contacts in said chamber whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said rotatable socket holder.

4. A portable night lamp comprising, a base, said base having a flat bottom with a top parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, said base also including side walls and an end wall connecting said top and bottom walls together whereby a battery receiving chamber is formed in said base, a second end wall adapted to be removably secured to said base whereby access may be had to said battery chamber, a hollow lamp stand supported on said top wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said lamp stand having spaced, vertically extending ears on the top thereof, a socket holder fitting between said ears, a socket in the end thereof, there being a concentric counter bore in said lamp stand extending downwardly from said ears, a member mounted in said counter bore, spring means in said counter bore for urging said member upwardly between said ears to frictionally engage said socket holder, a pin extending through said ears and socket holder whereby said holder and socket thereon be rotated in 7 a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lamp stand, electrical contacts in said chamber, electrical contacts on'said socket holder and electrically connected to said socket, electrical contacts on said lamp stand adjacent said socket holder and electrically connected to said contacts in said battery chamber, and batteries in said chamber haying terminals engaging said contacts in said chamber whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said rotatable socket holder, said contacts on said socket holder engaging said contacts on said lamp stand when said socket holder is rotated to a predetermined position to conduct electrical energy from said batteries to said socket. 5. A portable night lamp including a base forming a horizontal battery receiving chamber, a lamp stand extending upwardly from said base, a socket holder rotatably supported in the upper end of said lamp stand, a socket in the end of said holder, switch means mounted o'n-said socket holder and on said lamp stand electrically engageable when said socket holder is rotated to a predetermined position in said lamp stand, said switch means including contacts on each side of said socket holder, spring means normally urging said contacts outwardly of each side of said holder, anda pair of circular strip contacts onthe upper end of said lamp stand, said strip contacts each being in opposed spaced relation so as to be engageable with said outwardly projecting contacts on each side of said holder and each being less than a complete circle with the incomplete portion of one facing the complete portion of the other whereby said strip contacts and said contacts on said socket holder may be electrically disengaged when said socket holder is rotated to a predetermined position on either side of said lamp stand, and terminals in said battery receiving chamber electrically connected to said stand contacts for supplying electrical energy to said last named contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,641 Weston May 15, 1883 524,706 Connell Aug. 21, 1894 740,671 MacKaye Oct. 6, 1903 1,796,591 De Pont Mar. 17, 1931 1,879,343 La Vigne Sept. 27, 1932 1,899,868 Herlbauer Feb. 28, 1933 2,395,760 Quan Feb. 26, 1946 2,401,366 Muldoon June 4, 1946 2,712,058 Grebey et al. June 28, 1955 

